CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK in UTAH

Sunday - We were not sure of the church that we went to this morning, but it turned out to be a blessing for us!!  We were so pleased.  This town has an LDS, a Jehovah's Witness, and a Baptist (without Baptist in the name on the sign).  But our choice of Sevier (county) Valley Church was just what we wanted and needed. We even got to join them for a Potluck/Graduation luncheon. The pastor had relocated here from Greenville, SC three years ago and his daughter will be going back there to college. His wife was our class teacher and very good.  So we've found a church home for a few weeks.

The second half of our outing on Saturday was our drive on to Capitol Reef.  Awesome!!

 The clouds followed us, but no rain until the last few miles before home.

This is the beginning taste of what is ahead.

They call this next one the Fluted Wall --

The next pictures did not have specific  names, but oh so beautiful.

They call this next one The Castle --

We have now reached Capitol Reef gorge --

This they called the Egyptian Temple --

On our return trip you are still taking pictures because the view appears different.
You wonder how many years it has taken for the rocks to shed the sand which accumulates at the bottom.  They would tell you billions??  But it sure shows the most awesome columns!!

And then you wonder how often a bock breaks loose and how fast they fall.  There were many closer to the road. We thought the rocks with holes were interesting as well.

Fremont River runs through this canyon though we could not see it from our vantage point. Too many trees. Too bad we are not hikers.

It seems every park that we go through has it's own beauty.  No two alike!!

The Journey Through Time plaque here at Capitol Reef was interesting --
The massive geologic barrier, known as the Waterpocket Fold, shaped the lives of people through time. Capitol Gorge, carved out by sediment-filled water, is one of the main gaps in the rugged Fold. It was a primary travel route for American Indian tribes, settlers and ranchers.  In 1881, a group led by Elijah C. Behunin worked eight days to clear boulders from a 3.5-mile stretch of canyon to improve wagon passage. First a rough frontier trail, eventually the route became a key link in connecting isolated parts of Utah, divided by the Waterpocket Fold.  It was no smooth ride. Motorists suffered long hours over rough, rocky conditions.
In 1962, the last segment of Utah State Highway 24 was completed through the Fremont River canyon, bypassing Capitol Gorge.  Though travel is safer and easier today, floods continue to challenge the travelers throughout this part of Utah.

Because of threat of rain, the Gorge itself was closed.  The road that we traveled has many wash areas. You just can't imagine that much water rush after a single rain!! However, the road grader was sitting along the side for use to open up the areas after rains.  So what do we know?

Hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!!  Take care.